Wrapping and folding machines



Nov. 1, 1955 Filed May 19, 1950 FORSTER WRAPPING AND FOLDING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Shed; 1

Nov. 1, 1955 G. FORSTER 2,722,094

WRAPPING AND FOLDING MACHINES Filed May 19, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 1, 1955 G. FORSTER WRAPPING AND FOLDING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 19, 1950 Nov. 1, 1955 1.. G. FORSTER 2,722,094

WRAPPING AND FOLDING MACHINES Filed May 19, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Whmz.

Nov. 1, 1955 L. G. FORSTER WRAPPING AND FOLDING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet I 5 Filed May 19, 1950 United States Patent WRAPPING AND FOLDING MACHINES Leslie Gordon Forster, London, England, assignor to Forsters Machine Company Limited, Hayes, England, a corporation of Great Britain Application May 19, 1950, Serial No. 162,835 Claims priority, application Great Britain June 3, 1949 12 Claims. (Cl. 53-125) This invention relates to wrapping and folding machines for covering packets with thin material such as paper, cellulose or the like, and refers particularly to means for carrying out the final folding and closing operations and effecting the removal of the wrapped packet from the machine.

The various operations in the complete machine are disclosed in my U. S. specifications Nos. 2,570,030 and 2,586,462. These operations include, feeding the packets forward in succession by a conveyor, feeding a strip of covering material downward into the path of the packets, cutting off a suitable length from the strip, folding backwards the length of wrapping material previously cut off so that it lies above and below the packet as the packet is moved forward by the conveyor, tucking in the forward ends of the material extending sideways beyond the packet, folding the upper material extending sideways downwards and the lower material upwards so as to lie against the sides of the packet, and passing the packet between side heaters so as to stick the folded sides together when suitable wrapping material is used. The methods of effecting these first folding and tucking operations are known.

The invention thus relates to wrapping machines for wrapping and folding articles or packages in thin flexible sheet covering material, of the kind in which there is provided, a bearing plate, continuously moving conveyor means, including spaced conveyor fingers each adapted to move a package along said bearing plate, means for applying the covering material about the top, bottom and forward end portion of the said packages, and means for tucking and folding the sides of said covering material about the sides of each of said packages during movement thereof along the bearing plate.

The means for tucking in the corners of the wrapping material at the rearward end of the packet, for folding downwards and upwards the upper and lower rearwardly extending ends of the wrapping material and for feeding the wrapped packet downwards prior to its final removal from the machine, form the subject of the present invention.

It is an object of the invention to provide means having light moving parts capable of rapid operation for carrying out the final tucking and folding processes.

It is also an object of the invention to provide readily attachable and detachable tucking elements or tuckers whereby the machine may be readily adapted to deal with packets of different dimensions without other adjustments.

It is further an object of the invention to carry out the tucking operation on each packet when the packet has reached its end position and then to effect the final folding operation as the packet is moved downwardly.

A further object of the invention is the utilisation of the transverse end of the bed of the machine or a bar secured thereto as means for carrying out the final folding operation as the packet is moved downwardly.

It is a further object of the invention to operate the means for folding and moving the packet downwardly, in synchronism with the tucking means.

It is a further object of the invention to move each tucker in a closed path during each cycle of operations, when the package has reached its end position.

It is a further object of the invention (1) to hold the package in position between an end stop and a momentarily stationary conveyor finger while the side tucking operation is carried out and (2) to hold the package in position between the end stop and the moving tuckers while the downward folding operation is carried out.

It is a still further object of the invention to move each tucker during the tucking operation in longitudinal and transverse directions and to withdraw each tucker in a transverse direction after completion of the tucking operation.

It is a still further object of the invention to correlate the movements of the several mechanisms so that (l) the side tucking is carried out during the dwell of the conveyor finger at the end of its forward travel whereby the packet is held firmly against a stop (2) the tucks are held in position by the tuckers during transverse movement of the tuckers away from one another, the conveyor fingers being simultaneously withdrawn rearwardly and the downward folding operation being simultaneously carried out by downward movement of a flange on a top plate and (3) the final upward folding operation is carried out by a fixed bar when the package is moved downwardly by further downward movement of the top plate.

With these and other objects in view, an embodiment of the invention is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a general arrangement of the machine, the mechanism forming the subject of the present invention being disposed at the left or delivery end;

Figure 2 shows diagrammatically a number of steps covering the whole operation of wrapping and folding;

Figure 3 shows a side elevation to a larger scale of the left or delivery end of the machine illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 4 shows an end elevation of the machine as viewed from the left;

Figure 5 shows a plan view of the left or delivery end of the machine.

Figure 6 shows a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 shows a section on the line 7-7 of Figure 5;

Figure 8 shows an end elevation viewed in the same direction as Figure 7; and

Figure 9 shows a partial end elevation of a fixed bar or member by which the final folding operation is effected.

Referring first to Figure 1, a series of packets 1 ready for wrapping is fed down a chute 2 having a curved end portion 3. The last packet in the pile rests upon a fiat bearing plate 11 forming part of or secured to the base 4 of the machine which is supported on upright members such as 5. The base may be formed with two laterally spaced longitudinal side members 6, shown also in Figure 4. The side members 6 support between them the conveyor forming the subject of U. S. specification No. 2,570,030. The outline of the endless chain 7, some of the fingers 8 and other operative parts of the conveyor are shown chain dotted in Figure 3, the fingers 8 projecting upwardly from chain 7 through a slot, not shown, extending longitudinally through bearing plate 11. The lowermost packet 1 in the pile is moved to the left by one of the fingers 8 and'passes through a series of wrapping and folding operations, shortly to be described, in accordance with known practice, and finally through the folding and closing operations forming the subject of the present invention. While one packet 1 is passing through these operations, the next packet is moved forward by the next finger 8 of the conveyor and begins a similar series of wrapping and folding operations so that more than one packet at any time will be in an operative position but at a different stage in the process.

Each finger 8 moves a packet 1 forward until it meets a section of the wrapping material 9 disposed vertically. A suitable length of material has at this. stage been severed from the main strip by the apparatus covered by U. S. specification No. 2,586,462. The outline of this strip cutting apparatus is indicated at 10. The strip as it moves forward is subjected to folding operations of known character, these operations being shown diagrammatically in part of Figure 2; the direction of movement of the packets is shown by arrows.

Referring to Figure 2, the packets are passed between two series of specially shaped vertical plates 13, 14, 16 supported by means, not shown, on or slightly above the bearing plate 11 extending between the side plates 6 of the machine. Disposed between the side plates at a height depending upon the thickness measured vertically of the packets is a top plate 12 indicated by dotted lines. The entering ends of the bearing and top plates 11, 12 are bent, respectively down and up, each as indicated at 17 and 18, preferably with a radius. The entering ends 19 of side plates 13 are bent outwardly. A central longitudinal slot (not shown) in bearing plate 11 allows. movement of fingers 8.

Position A shows a packet i when first brought into contact with the covering material which is thus held while a length 15 is cut off.

Position B shows the packet with wrapping material after it has been moved forward a short distance between the entering ends of the side plates 13 and the upper plate 12 and bearing plate 11. During this operation, the wrapping material is bent backwards so that part is folded underneath and part above the packet while the material at the leading sides is tucked-in by the ends 19 of plates 13.

The packet is next passed between side folding plates 13, 14. The downwardly inclined slots between plates 13, 14 at each side serve to turn down the upper part of the wrapping material, this result being shown in position C. The packet next passes between side plates 16, the slots between side plates 14 and 16 on each side being upwardly inclined so as to fold up the lower edges of the wrapper; the result is shown in position D.

The folded sides may be stuck in position by passing the packets between heaters 19, Figures 1 and 3, when suitable wrapping material has been used.

All the operations referred to above are in accordance with known practice. The remaining operations are, however, carried. out in accordance with the present invention.

Finger 8 of the conveyor finally carries the packet forward beyond the end of the bearing plate so that it rests upon two hinged packet checks or supports 21, as in Figures 4 and 7. The finger dwells for a short interval in this position and is then withdrawn and moves rearwardly and downwardly so as to allow passage for the next following packet. This movement of the finger is described in the above mentioned U. S. specification No. 2,570,030.

The next stage of operation is shown in position E of Figure 2. Two tuckers 22, 23 are moved towards one another from each side in such a way as to tuck-in the wrapping material at the two rearward corners of the packet. The tucker 22 shown on the left follows a closed path which may be of the form indicated by triangle 24 while tucker 23 follows a similar but reversed path. The movement indicated by arrow 25 corresponds to the withdrawal of the tucker, arrow shows the direction of movement into a position ready for acting on the next packet and arrow 36 shows the tucking-in movement.

In the next operation, shown at F, top folding plate 37 moves downwards vertically to engage the top of the packet, but before this engagement takes place, downwardly depending folding flange 38 at one endof plate 37 turns down the upper rearwardly extending part of the wrapping material.

Plate 37 then continues its downward movement carrying the packet with it. During the first part of the downward movement, the remaining rearward extension of the wrapping material is turned upwards by engagement with a fixed plate or bar 39 on the end of the machine, thus completing the wrapping of the packet as shown at G. This vertical downward movement continues until the package so wrapped is moved between brushes 91, 92 shown in Figures 3 and 4, the brushes holding it lightly in position on top of a pile of previously wrapped packets, the pile having been moved downwards a distance equal to the thickness of one packet by the vertical movement of the folding plate 37. The lowermost packets, as they are pressed downwards, are carried away by a conveyor or other suitable means.

The several operations for effecting the purposes of the invention are driven from the transverse shaft 41 mounted in the frame of the machine, this mechanism being shown in detail in Figures 3, 4 and 5. The ends of shaft 41 are mounted in bearings carried by brackets 33 extending outwardly from the main side frames 6. Shaft 41 may be driven by a sprocket wheel 77 geared to an electric motor. A shaft 43 running longitudinally of the machine may be driven by bevel gearing 42, this shaft being adapted to drive the strip cutting apparatus.

The transverse shaft 41 carries at each end an arrangement of cams for effecting the requisite movements of tuckers 22, 23. Chain gearing 44, including a jocket pulley 43, serves to drive a second transverse shaft 45 from the first transverse shaft 41. This second transverse shaft 45 serves for the vertical operation of top folding plate 37 with folding flange 38 for effecting the final folding and vertical displacing operations referred to previously. Transverse shaft 45 is mounted in bearings in the main side frame 6. Shaft 45 is extended outwardly to one side of the machine and carries a hand wheel 32 for adjustment or hand operation when necessary.

Tuckers 22, 23 are each carried by a bayonet joint and spring connection in tucker holders 46 in the following manner. Each tucker is provided with a projecting pin 22' which is inserted in the angular or elbow shaped slot 23" in tucker holder or carrier 46, this being accomplished by turning the tucker so that the pin can be inserted in the outer part of the slot and then twisting the tucker so that the pin will become seated in the end of the slot where it is held by the action of a suitable spring located in the carrier and against which the other end of the tucker bears. The stem 47 of each tucker has a long bearing surface in its holder 46 and it is urged forward by a spring, not shown. In this way it is possible to intercharge the tuckers in use rapidly for tuckers of different shape or difierent dimensions in order to adapt the machine to deal with packets of different sizes.

Each tucker holder 46 is supported at its rear end by a pivot 49 and rests upon a roller 50. The pivot is mounted transversely in a channel section guide within which the tucker holder fits and is freely movable about pivot 49. The channel member is rigidly secured to or is formed integral with a substantially vertical main tucker arm 56 connected by a pivot 57, running approximately longitudinally of the machine, to a member 58 pivotally mounted on a fixed bearing or spindle 59 projecting outwardly from and rigidly supported by the side frame members 6 of the machine. This mounting allows the tucker and tucker holder to be moved a short distance both transversely and longitudinally of the machine by the cam mechanism. A substantially vertical control arm 60 rigidly connected to or integral with member 58 extends upwardly and. is provided with an extension 61 carrying the roller 50 which supports the inner end of the tucker holder 46, as mentioned previously.

To facilitate changing of the tuckers for other tuckers of a different shape or different dimensions, each tucker holder 46 may be turned up about its pivot 49, as shown in Figure 4. During operation of the machine, tucker holder 46 is held in contact with roller 50 by tension spring 34 extending between holder 46 and the main tucker arm 56. The upper end of spring 34 is readily disconnected from tucker holder 46 by bent catch 32.

The tuckers vary in two main dimensions depending on the dimensions of the packet. The width of the tucker vertically depends on the depth of the packet and the length from the end of the tucker holder depends on the width of the packet.

The necessary movement imparted to each tucker holder by means of two cams 62, 63 mounted on and rotating with transverse shaft 41. The outerradial cam 62 engages a roller 54 mounted on a spindle carried by an extension 64 from the side of control arm 60. This cam thus serves to impart a small oscillation to all the parts supported by control arm 60-and member 58 in a direction longitudinally of the machine. Springs 65 hold roller 54 and the parts movable therewith against cam 62.

The other inner side face cam 63 is adapted to engage roller 66, preferably having a convex periphery and carried on a spindle extending from the side of the main tucker arm 56, which is thus oscillated about its supporting pivot 57. The pivot 49 in the channel section member 55 is similarly oscillated transversely of the machine and this movement is transmitted to tucker holder 46 which is thereby moved transversely of the machine. During this movement tucker holder 46 is also guided by engagement with roller 50. Spring 67 ensures engagement of roller 66 with its side face cam 63, this spring being in tension and conected at its ends to main tucker arm 56 and control arm 60.

Tuckers 22, 23 should each move in a substantially horizontal path. Since the movement of each pin 49 operating a tucker holder 46 includes, in the construction shown, a vertical component, it is necessary to curve in a suitable manner the underside of the tucker holder where it runs over roller 50. A suitable contour is indicated at 29 in Figure 4.

During the tucking operation, the wrapping material should curve freely but should not be bent sharply. To facilitate this action, the ends of tuckers 22, 23 are tapered. Also, provision is made to allow the material to bulge slightly without restraint above and below the upper and lower surfaces of the packets. To allow upward bulge, the end of the top plate 12 is cut away at the sides as shown in the plan view, Figure 5 To allow downward bulge, the transverse bar 39 or a fixed plate may be curved downwardly adjacent the tuckers, as shown at 31 in Figures 5 and 9. These depressions may be formed in the end of bearer plate 11 or in a separate bar 39 or plate.

The means for imparting vertical movement to top folding plate 37 is operated from the lower transverse shaft 45. Radial cam 68 engages a roller 69 carried at the ends of arms 70 movable with a rod 71 slidable vertically in two bearings 72 carried by a vertical member 73 secured to the side frames 6 of the machine. A third bearing 53 may be carried by frame 6. A tension spring 74 urges this slidable rod 71 upwards so as to maintain roller 69 in engagement with cam 68. A bracket 75 adjustably secured in position on rod 71 carries top folding plate 37 by readily detachable connections such as screws 30, thus facilitating the interchangeability of plates of different dimensions. Rotation of rod 71 and parts connected thereto is prevented by rollers 76 carried by bracket 75 and running on the face of vertical member 73 at the sides thereof.

Plate 37 is thus movable up and down in synchronism 6 with the tuckers 22, 23 so as to effect the final folding operations and the downward movement of the pile of finally wrapped packets.

During the final tucking and folding operations forming the subject of the invention, the packet is supported by a unit removably secured to the end of the machine, this unit serving also to guide and support a pile of previously wrapped packets and to deliver the lowermost packets in succession to a conveyor or other apparatus.

The main frame of this unit consists of two open rectangular members 80 disposed vertically and rigidly connected to one another by upper and lower transverse bars 81. The outer part of the right hand member 80 is shown cut away in Figure 4. The frame may bear against an end plate on the frame of the machine and be located in position thereon by spigots or equivalent means. The frame is held in position against the end plate by quickly detachable connections. For example, two levers 82 may be pivotally mounted on brackets 83 projecting from the main side frames 6. Each lever may have a generally vertical operating arm 84 and a horizontal arm 85 having a curved or cam-like surface adapted to engage the outer vertical side of the rectangular member 80.

The unit is thus readily removable and may be replaced as a whole when required by a different unit to enable the machine to be set for dealing with packets of a different size.

To the upper ends of the rectangular members are bolted, by bolts 87, angle members 86 carrying pivoted thereto the packet checks 21 shown particularly in Figures 7 and 8. The packet checks are shown as carried by plates 88 projecting upwards through slots in the horizontal flanges of angles 86 and secured to the vertical flanges. Springs 89 hold the packet checks 21 in their raised position.

When a packet has been moved to its final position by conveyor finger 8, it is then supported by the packet checks 21 and further endwise movement is prevented by packet stops 90 secured to the vertical flanges of angle members 86.

Downward movement of top folding plate 37 with folding flange 38, after tucking-in is complete, first folds down the upper wrapping material. This is effected by folding flange 38. Top plate 37 then makes contact with the top of the packet and moves it downwardly. During this downward movement, the lower wrapping material is folded up by contact with the fixed bar or plate 39 and movement then ceases. The packet is thus finally closed and rests upon the top of a pile of previously wrapped packets. During this last mentioned downward movement, the pile of packets is pushed downwards.

In this position the packet is held between fixed side brushes 91, a movable end brush 92 and a small tab brush 93, shown in Figures 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7. The tab brush makes contact with the folded end through slots in folding flange 38. When top plate 37 moves upwardly and flange 38 is withdrawn in readiness for the next packet, tab brush 93 retains the packet in position and prevents damage to the folded end.

When the packet is moved downwardly, packet checks 21 hinge downwardly and are returned by their springs 89 when the packet has passed. To avoid damage to soft packets, the packet checks may be moved downwards by downward extensions 93 from the top of folding plate 37, as shown particularly in Figure 8, to allow movement dgwnward of the packet without resistance from springs 8 The side brushes 91, which extend vertically, are mounted within the rectangular members 80. The wooden backs of the brushes are secured by screws to one flange on angle plates 94, the other flange being secured by bolts 95 to the outer sides of the rectangular frames 80. The bolts 95 pass through horizontally slotted holes or openings so that the brushes can be adjusted to compensate for wear of the bristles.

The movable end brush 92 is carried by an arm 96 which is adapted to be swung back out of action about pivot 97. Spring 98 holds the brush in its operative position. An adjustable stop 99 is provided for setting the brush in accordance with the length of the packets. The pivot 97 may be adjusted in position within the limits of slot 100 in supporting bracket 101.

The movable brush 92 holds the pile of packets lightly against a plate on the end of the machine, which plate may be heated to seal the finally folded ends.

When a packet is added to the top of the pile, the lowermost packet is ejected from the vertical channel formed by the brushes 91, 92 and the end plate and may be carried away by a conveyor or other suitable means.

Packets, after the final folding operation, may be removed from the machine by means other than the brush unit described. Large packets, for example, might be removed as soon as they are finally closed, in a rearward direction or sideways.

It is to be understood that although the tuckers are shown as moving horizontally during the tucking operation and the packets vertically during the folding operation, they may move in other directions, the direction of movement of the other elements being altered correspondingly.

No claim is made to operation of the tuckers whereby the tuckers first carry out a similar tucking operation while overtaking a package which is then being moved forward by a conveyor and secondly move the package forwardly away from the conveyor operating member. In such apparatus, the long range of movement at high speed necessary for overtaking is superimposed upon the short range of movement at relatively low speed of the tuckers towards and away from the package. In the present invention, the short range of movement of the tuckers longitudinally of the machine while the package is held firmly for a short interval between the conveyor finger and a stop enables the tucking operation to be carried out and repeated rapidly at high speed with a high degree of precision.

Further, no claim is made for wrapping apparatus in which a stack of packages is moved upwardly against the force of gravity, the last wrapped lowermost package being supported by a vertically reciprocable plate.

What I claim is:

1. In a wrapping machine for wrapping and folding articles or packages in thin flexible sheet covering material; a bearing plate; continuously moving conveyor means, including spaced conveyor fingers each adapted to move a package along said bearing plate, means for withdrawing the fingers rearwardly and moving them clear of following packages; means for applying the covering material about the top, bottom and forward end por tion of the said packages; means for tucking and folding the sides of said covering material about the sides of each of said packages during movement thereof along the bearing plate end stop means for preventing further forward movement of the package when the conveyor finger completes its forward movement, each conveyor finger being maintained in contact with the end of a stationary package for a short interval before said finger is withdrawn rearwardly and moved clear of the following package; means for tucking in the wrapping material extending beyond the rearward end of the said stationary package at the two opposite sides thereof before the said finger is withdrawn rearwardly, said tucking means including a pair of oppositely disposed tuckers, a carrier member for each tucker within which a tucker is rigidly and removably mounted, and two separate mechanisms operating each tucker carrier, one mechanism moving the tucker which it operates substantially only towards and away from the other tucker, and the other mechanism moving the tucker substantially only away from and towards the end of the package, the four mechanisms being operated from a common source; whereby each of the carriers and the tuckers carried thereby may be moved away from and back towards the package and towards one another thereby effecting the side tucking operation while the said conveyor finger is stationary and then away from each other, the said mechanism being adapted to maintain the operative faces of the tuckers parallel to the end of the package so as to contact said covering material lying against the end of the packet after the said finger has been withdrawn rearwardly.

2. In a wrapping machine for wrapping and folding articles or packages in thin flexible sheet covering material; a bearing plate; continuously moving conveyor means, including spaced conveyor fingers each adapted to move a package along said bearing plate, means for withdrawing the fingers rearwardly and moving them clear of following packages; means for applying the covering material about the top, bottom and forward end portion of the said packages; means for tucking and folding the sides of said covering material about the sides of each of said packages during movement thereof along the bearing plate end stop means for preventing further forward movement of the package when the conveyor finger completes its forward movement, each conveyor finger being maintained in contact with the end of a stationary package for a short interval before said finger is withdrawn rearwardly and moved clear of the following pack age; means for tucking in the wrapping material extending beyond the rearward end of the said stationary package at the two opposite sides thereof before the said finger is withdrawn rearwardly, said tucking means including a pair of oppositely disposed tuckers, a carrier member for each tucker, within which a tucker is rigidly and removably mounted substantially vertical main tucker arms, a pivotal connection between each carrier member and the upper end of a tucker arm, an additional support for each carrier member, control arms each associated with a tucker arm, a pivotal support for the lower end of each control arm, a pivotal connection between the lower end of each tucker arm and the lower end of the associated control arm, cam mechanism for moving each tucker arm and the associated control arm in directions substantially at right angles to one another, whereby each of the carriers and the tuckers carried thereby may be moved away from the package and towards one another and back towards the package thereby effecting the side tucking operation and then away from each other while the operative face of the tucker remains parallel to the end of the package so as to contact said covering material lying against the end of the packet after the said finger has been withdrawn rearwardly.

3. In a wrapping machine for wrapping and folding articles or packages in thin flexible sheet covering material; a bearing plate; continuously moving conveyor means, including spaced conveyor fingers each adapted to move a package along said bearing plate, means for withdrawing the fingers rearwardly and moving them clear of following packages; means for applying the covering material about the top, bottom and forward end portion of the said packages; means for tucking and folding the sides of said covering material about the sides of each of said packages during movement thereof along the bearing plate end stop means for preventing further forward movement of the package when the conveyor finger completes its forward movement, each conveyor finger being maintained in contact with the end of a stationary package for a short interval before said finger is withdrawn rearwardly and moved clear of the following package; means for tucking in the free side ends of said covering material extending beyond the rearward end of the said package at the two opposite sides thereof before the said package is withdrawn rearwardly, said tucking means including a pair of oppositely disposed tuckers, a first means for imparting to each of said tuckers a cycle of movement, comprising movement towards the end of the package, a dwell and movement away from the end of the package, a second means for imparting to each of said tuckers a cycle of movement towards and away from the other tucker, the said first and second means being adapted to maintain the operative faces of the tuckers parallel to the end of the package and means for so timing the said two cycles of movement relatively to one another that the tuckers are moved away from one another during the said dwell and thereby hold the tucks in position after the conveyor finger is withdrawn rearwardly.

4. In a wrapping machine for wrapping and folding articles or packages in thin flexible sheet covering material; a bearing plate; continuously moving conveyor means, including spaced conveyor fingers each adapted to move a package along said bearing plate, means for withdrawing the fingers rearwardly and moving them clear of following packages; means for applying the covering material about the top, bottom and forward end portion of the said packages; means for tucking and folding the sides of said covering material about the sides of each of said packages during movement thereof along the bearing plate supports extending beyond the end of the bearing plate; yieldable means for holding said supports in a raised position in line with the bearing plate; end stop means for preventing further forward movement of the package when the conveyor finger completes its forward movement with the package resting upon said supports, each conveyor finger be ing maintained in contact with the end of a stationary package for a short interval before said finger is withdrawn rearwardly and moved clear of the following package; means for tucking in the wrapping material extending beyond the rearward end of the said stationary package at the two opposite sides thereof while said package rests upon said supports and before the said finger is withdrawn rearwardly, said tucking means including a pair of oppositely disposed carrier members, a tucker rigidly and removably mounted in each carrier member, a first means for imparting to each of said carrier members and its associated tucker a cycle of movement comprising movement towards the end of the package, a dwell and movement away from the end of the package, a second means operatively connected to each of said carrier members for imparting to each of said tuckers a cyclic movement towards and away from the other tucker, and means for so timing the said first and second cycles of movement relatively to one another that the carrier members and tuckers are moved away from one another during the said dwell and while said conveyor finger is withdrawn rearwardly, the said first and second means being adapted to maintain the operative faces of the tuckers parallel to the end of the package; a pivot connecting each carrier member to its operating means, whereby each carrier member and its associated tucker may be moved away from its operative position to facilitate removal and attachment of the tuckers; and means for delivering the folded packet downwardly from the machine, the said supports yielding to allow this movement.

5. In a wrapping machine for wrapping and folding articles or packages in thin flexible sheet covering material; a bearing plate; continuously moving conveyor means, including spaced conveyor fingers each adapted to move a package along said bearing plate, means for withdrawing the fingers rearwardly and moving them clear of following packages; means for applying the covering material about the top, bottom and forward end portion of the said packages; means for tucking and folding the sides of said covering material about the sides of each of said packages during movement thereof along the bearing plate supports extending beyond the end of the bearing plate; yieldable means for bold ing said supports in araised position in line with the bearing plate; end stop means for preventing further forward movement of the package when the conveyor finger completes its forward movement with the package resting upon said supports, each conveyor finger being maintained in contact with the end of a stationary package for a short interval before said finger is withdrawn rearwardly and moved clear of the following package; means for tucking in the wrapping material extending beyond the rearward end of the said stationary package at the two opposite sides thereof while said package rests upon said supports and before the said finger is withdrawn rearwardly, said tucking means including a pair of oppositely disposed tuckers each movable in a closed path, a first means for imparting to each of said tuckers a cycle of movement comprising movement towards the end of the package, a dwell and movement away from the end of the package, such dwell coinciding with the rearward Withdrawal of the conveyor finger, a second means for imparting to each of said tuckers a cyclic movement towards and away from the other tucker, means for so timing the said cycles of movement that the tuckers are moved away from one another during the said dwell, the said first and second means being adapted to maintain the operative faces of the tuckers parallel to the end of the package and in contact with the tucked in covering material during the said dwell; means for completing the final folding operation comprising a flanged folding plate and a fixed transverse bar adjacent the rear lower edge of the package; and means for lightly resisting downward movement of the package below the tucking position, the flanged folding plate being moved downwardly so that the flange first folds down the upper rearwardly extending end of the wrapping material while the tuckers are moving away from one another and the plate then with the aid of gravity moves the package and a stack of previously wrapped packages downwardly, the resiliently restrained supports yielding to allow this movement while the said fixed bar folds upwardly the lower rearwardly extending end of the wrapping material.

6. In a wrapping machine for wrapping and folding articles or packages in thin flexible sheet covering material; a bearing plate; continuously moving conveyor means, including spaced conveyor fingers each adapted to move a package along said bearing plate, means for withdrawing the fingers rearwardly and moving them clear of following packages; means for applying the covering material about the top, bottom and forward end portion of the said packages; means for tucking and folding the sides of said covering material about the sides of each of said packages during movement thereof along the bearing plate supports extending beyond the end of the bearing plate; yieldable means for holding said supports in a raised position in line with the bearing plate; end stop means for preventing further forward movement of the package when the conveyor finger completes its forward movement with the package resting upon said supports, each conveyor finger being maintained in contact with the end of a stationary package for a short interval before said finger is withdrawn rearwardly and moved clear of the following package; means for tucking in the wrapping material extending beyond the rearward end of the said stationary package at the two opposite sides thereof while said package rests upon said supports and before the said finger is withdrawn rearwardly, said tucking means including a pair of oppositely disposed tuckers adapted to carry out the tucking operation while the conveyor finger is maintained in contact with the end of the stationary package, a first cam-operated means for imparting to each of said tuckers a cycle of movement, comprising movement towards the end of the package, a dwell and movement away from the end of the package, a second cam-operated means for imparting to each of said tuckers a cyclic movement towards and away from the other tucker, the said first and second camoperated means being adapted to maintain the operative faces of the tuckers parallel to the end of the package and means for so relating the movements of the two cams to one another that the tuckers are moved away from one another while in contact with the tucked-in covering material on the end of the packet during the said dwell and while the said conveyor finger is withdrawn rearwardly; a reciprocating folding plate mounted above said pivotal supports, a downwardly projecting flange on the said plate, and a fixed transverse bar disposed in parallel spaced relationship downward from said flanged plate whereby upon reciprocation downward of said flanged plate, the flange thereon folds downwardly the upper rearwardly extending end of the wrapping material while the tuckers are moving away from one another and the plate then engages the top of the package to move it downwardly as the transverse bar folds upwardly the lower rearwardly extending end of the wrapping material.

7. In a wrapping machine for wrapping and folding articles or packages in thin flexible sheet covering material; a bearing plate; continuously moving conveyor means, including spaced conveyor fingers each adapted to move a package along said bearing plate, means for withdrawing the fingers rearwardly and moving them clear of following packages; means for applying the covering material about the top, bottom and forward end portion of the said packages; means for tucking and folding the sides of said covering material about the sides of each of said packages during movement thereof along the bearing plate end stop means for preventing further forward movement of the package when the conveyor finger completes its forward movement, each conveyor finger being maintained in contact with the end of a stationary package for a short interval before said finger is withdrawn rearwardly and moved clear of the following package; means for tucking in the wrapping material extending beyond the rearward end of the said package at the two opposite sides thereof before the said finger is withdrawn rearwardly, said tucking means including a pair of spaced oppositely disposed carrier members, a tucker mounted on each carrier memher, a pair of cams 011 each side of the machine, the cams of each pair being arranged at a transverse angle to one another, a common drive shaft operating said cams, a control arm operated by a first one of said cams on one side of the machine, a pivot on which said control arm is mounted disposed transversely of the machine so as to impart to its associated tucker a cycle of movement in a longitudinal direction, comprising movement towards the end of the package, a dwell and movement away from the end of the package, said dwell coinciding with the rearward withdrawal of the conveyor finger, a tucker arm operated by the second of said associated cams and pivotally mounted on said control arm for imparting to the said tucker a cyclic movement transversely of the machine, the cams being so related operatively to one another that the tucker is moved transversely away from the centre line of the machine while in contact with the tucked-in covering material on the end of the package during the said dwell, the said tucker and control arms being adapted to maintain the operative faces of the tuckers substantially parallel to the end of the package.

8. In a wrapping machine for wrapping and folding articles or packages in thin flexible sheet covering material; a bearing plate; continuously moving conveyor means, including spaced conveyor fingers each adapted to move a package along said bearing plate, means for withdrawing the fingers rearwardly and moving them clear of following packages; means for applying the covering material about the top, bottom and forward end portion of the said packages; means for tucking and folding the sides of said covering material about the sides of each of said packages during movement thereof along the hearing plate supports extending beyond the end of the bearing plate; yieldable means for holding said supports in a raised position in line with the bearing plate; end stop means for preventing further forward movement of the package when the conveyor finger completes its forward movement with the package resting upon said supports; each conveyor finger being maintained in contact with the end of a stationary package for a short interval before said finger is withdrawn rearwardly and moved clear of the following package; means for tucking in the wrapping material extending beyond the rearward end of the said package at the two opposite sides thereof while said package is held stationary by the conveyor finger, said tucking means including a pair of oppositely disposed tuckers; mechanism operating said tuckers and adapted to maintain the operative faces of the tuckers parallel to the rear end of the package whereby each of the tuckers may be moved in a closed path, said closed path including a tucking movement and a transverse withdrawing movement with the operative faces of the tuckers in contact with the tucks, while the conveyor fingers are withdrawn rearwardly; a flanged plate and a fixed transverse bar whereby upon reciprocation downward of said flanged plate, the flange thereon first folds downwardly the upper rearwardly extending end of the wrapping material and the plate then engages the top of the package and moves it downwardly as the fixed transverse bar folds upwardly the lower rearwardly extending end of the wrapping material.

9. A wrapping machine as claimed in claim 8 comprising a top folding plate extending longitudinally of the machine above the moving packages, the end of said plate adjacent the tuckers being cut away at the sides, the fixed transverse bar being bent downwardly adjacent each tucker whereby the covering material may bulge upwardly and downwardly during the tucking operation.

10. In a wrapping machine for wrapping and folding articles or packages in thin flexible sheet covering mate rial; a bearing plate; continuously moving conveyor means, including spaced conveyor fingers each adapted to move a package along said bearing plate, means for withdrawing the fingers rearwardly and moving them clear of following packages; means for applying the covering material about the top, bottom and forward end portion of the said packages; means for tucking and folding the sides of said covering material about the sides of each of said packages during movement thereof along the bearing plate end stop means for preventing further forward movement of the package when the conveyor finger completes its forward movement, each conveyor finger being maintained in contact with the end of a stationary package for a short interval before said finger is withdrawn rearwardly and moved clear of the following package; means for tucking in the wrapping material extending beyond the rearward end of the said package at the two opposite sides thereof while said package is held stationary by the conveyor finger, said tucking means including a pair of oppositely disposed tuckers, a pair of tucker carriers, means for securing each tucker firmly and removably in its carrier, mechanism operating said tucker carriers and tuckers, said mechanism being adapted to maintain the operative faces of said tuckers parallel to the rearward end of the package, and pivots interposed between said tucker carriers and said mechanism whereby each tucker carrier and its associated tucker may be moved away from its operative position to facilitate removal and attachment of the tuckers.

11. In a wrapping machine for wrapping and folding articles or packages in thin flexible sheet covering material; a bearing plate; continuously moving conveyor means, including spaced conveyor fingers each adapted to move a package along said bearing plate, means for withdrawing the fingers rearwardly and moving them clear of following packages; means for applying the covering material about the top, bottom and forward end portion of the said packages; means for tucking and folding the sides of said covering material about the sides of each of said packages during movement thereof along the bearing plate end stop means for preventing further forward movement of the package when the conveyor finger completes its forward movement, each conveyor finger being maintained in contact with the end of a stationary package for a short interval before said finger is withdrawn rearwardly; an assembly for tucking in the wrapping material extending beyond the rearward end of the said stationary package at the two opposite sides thereof before the said finger is withdrawn rearwardly, said assembly including a pair of oppositely disposed tuckers one on each side of the machine; cam mechanism comprising two cams on each side of the machine for operating the associated tucker; a common drive shaft operating both pairs of cams; and tucker supporting and operating means on each side including a substantially vertical control arm operated by one of said cams and pivotally mounted on a shaft extending transversely of the machine, a substantially vertical tucker arm operated by a second cam and pivotal}; mounted on said control arm by means of a pivot extending substantially longitudinally of the machine, said tuckers each being carried by the upper end of a tucker arm, the said assembly on each side of the machine being removable as a whole from the said transverse shaft and the machine.

12. In a wrapping machine for wrapping and folding articles or packages in thin flexible sheet covering material; a bearing plate; continuously moving conveyor means, including spaced conveyor fingers each adapted to move a package along said bearing plate, means for withdrawing the fingers rearwardly and moving them clear of following packages; means for applying the covering material about the top, bottom and forward end portion of the said packages; means for tucking and folding the side: of said covering material about the sides of each of said packages during movement thereof along the bearing plate supports extending beyond the end of the bearing plate; yieldable means for holding said supports in a raised position in line with the bearing plate; end stop means for preventing further forward movement of the package when the conveyor finger completes its forward movement with the package resting upon said supports, each conveyor finger being maintained in contact with the end of a stationary package for a short interval before said finger is Withdrawn rearwardly; means for tucking in the wrapping material extending beyond the rearward end of the said stationary package at the two opposite sides thereof, said tucking means including a pair of oppositely disposed tuckers and operating mechanism for each tucker by means of which the tuckers are moved simultaneously towards one another and towards the end of the package to efiect the tucking operation while the conveyor finger is in contact with the end of the package; and means for efiecting the final folding operations including a vertically reciprocable top plate with a depending flange and a fixed bar, the upper folding operation being carried out by the depending flange during the early part of the downward movement of the top plate after the conveyor finger has been withdrawn rearwardly and while the tuckers are moved transversely away from one another but are in contact with the tucked covering material and the final lower folding operation being carried out when the package is moved downwards by the top plate and passes the fixed bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,308,321 Armstrong July 1, 1919 1,336,838 Heeter Apr. 13, 1920 1,426,429 Weightman Aug. 22, 1922 1,618,025 Rose Feb. 15, 1927 1,673,524 Molins June 12, 1928 1,697,468 Molins June 1, 1929 1,824,378 Smith Sept. 22, 1931 

